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Year 10 - Geography

Global atmospheric circulation model, pressure belts and surface winds

Weather hazards

Unit Summary

This unit teaches pupils about weather hazards at the global and national (UK) scales. Pupils learn about global atmospheric circulation before focusing on the formation, impacts and responses to tropical storms. Pupils also learn about extreme weather events in the UK.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain that the atmosphere operates as a global system, determining pressure, winds and rainfall patterns.

Key Notes

  • The atmosphere operates as a global system.
  • The atmospheric circulation and ocean currents transfer heat around the Earth.
  • The atmospheric circulation determines the location of global pressure belts.
  • Global pressure belts affect surface winds and patterns of rainfall.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • latitude: this describes how far north or south of the Equator a place is
  • atmospheric pressure: the pressure of a column of air at a point on the Earth'ssurface, creating relatively high or low pressure
  • surface winds: the movement of air from place to place, generally from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
  • Coriolis effect: deflection of winds and ocean currents caused by Earth's rotation

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The global atmospheric circulation systems controls the temperature of different climate zones.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this geography topic using two clear key points.

The atmosphere operates as a global system. The atmospheric circulation and ocean currents transfer heat around the Earth.

2. Define this geography term and use it in an example. 'latitude'

this describes how far north or south of the Equator a place is.

3. Correct this common geography misunderstanding.

Mistake: The global atmospheric circulation systems controls the temperature of different climate zones. Correction: Global circulation system redistributes heat received at the Equator, but latitude controls temperature of each climate zone. The amount of solar radiation received at each latitude is due to the curvature of the Earth.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 10 Geography guide library.